College Roundup: Sparks shines in UCI win

BASEBALL

UC Irvine 8, Pacific 4

STOCKTON — Sophomore third baseman Taylor Sparks went two for four with three runs batted it to lead the visiting Anteaters in the first game of a three-game Big West Conference series on Friday.

Chris Rabago and Jerry McClanahan had two hits and one RBI each for the Anteaters (24-10, 6-4 in conference), while Scott Gottschling had one hit and two RBIs.

Andrew Thurman allowed four runs on six hits in 7 2/3 innings to improve to 4-3 for the ‘Eaters.

The two teams resume the series Saturday at 2 p.m.

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Vanguard 5, Biola 4

COSTA MESA — Ian Sakry was three for four with one run batted in and two runs to pace the host Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference game on Friday.

Jason Ochart, Thomas Mobley and John Collins all had two hits and one RBI for the winners (19-25, 12-19), for whom Bryce Arroyo and Ellis Whitman added two hits apiece.

Kamakani Usui allowed two runs on six hits over five innings to up his record to 4-6, while Kevin Ponzo earned his 10th save, despite giving up two runs in one inning.

Biola is 25-21, 13-18.

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WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Mt. SAC Relays

WALNUT — UC Irvine sophomore Paige Bushnell won her section and finished 21st among 42 competitors in the 400-meter hurdles on Friday at Mt. SAC.

Bushnell’s time of 1 minute, 1.17 seconds was the eighth fastest un UCI history.

Lauren Hackney finished second in her section of the 400 in 57.59 seconds.

Sakia Sailinuu placed fourth in her section of the 800 meters with a season-best time of 2:13.40 and Marie Brashears posted a time of 2:26.22.

UCI competes in the Beach Invitational at Cerritos College on Saturday.

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Orange Empire Conference finals

SAN CLEMENTE — Orange Coast College’s Camille Garcia won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in 11 minutes, 56.23 seconds on the first day of the meet Friday at San Clemente High.

OCC’s Sabrina Howe was third in the long jump in 16-6 1/2.

Garcia was fifth in the 1,000 in 43:06.37, one spot ahead of OCC’s Nisreen Rizk (43:30.65).

OCC’s Ashley Tupailesa was fourth in the hammer throw (135 feet, 1 inch) and sixth in the discus (100-7), while teammate Cassandra Jacobs was fifth (126-10) and seventh (93-2) in the same events, respectively.

Catalina Lay was seventh in the hammer throw (120-8).

Pirates Leanne Allen and Raeanna Cortez qualified first and second, respectively, in the 800. Allen’s time was 2:23.79 and Cortez finished in 2:19.60.

September Rodriguez (6th in the 400) and Manasha Arellano (eighth in the 100) also qualified for the finals for the Pirates.

The remaining finals are April 26.

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MEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Orange Empire Conference finals

SAN CLEMENTE — Orange Coast College’s Jace Hinesly won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in nine minutes, 33.04 seconds, while teammate Jared Arteaga was sixth in 11:00.8 on the first day of the meet Friday at San Clemente High.

Cameron Pizzica was third in the long jump (21 feet, 7 1/2 inches) and fourth in the high jump (6-0) for OCC.

Jose Ortiz (third in 31:58.07), Jay Bonthius (sixth in 33:01.26) and Brendon Prieto (eighth in 36:21.93) all scored points for OCC in the 1,000.

Darrin Halliday was fifth in the javelin final (147-11), while Andy Bardine was eighth (136-08) for OCC.

Bardine was seventh in the long jump (21-2) and Arteaga was eighth, while Bardine qualified fourth in the 110 high hurdles.

Weston Hall and Kevin Russell qualified fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 800, while Christian Long qualified seventh in the 400 intermediate hurdles.

Evant Orange and Thomas Testini qualified eighth and ninth, respectively, for OCC in the 200.

The remaining finals are April 26.

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WOMEN’S WATER POLO

UC Irvine 12, Loyola Marymount 7

IRVINE — Michaela Pierandozzi and Ambyr Stewart scored three goals apiece to lead the host Anteaters in the nonconference regular-season finale Friday.

UCI, ranked No. 6, improved to 19-8, while No. 11-ranked LMU fell to 17-12.

UCI opens the Big West Conference Tournament on Friday.